Egypt blood donations plunge after 'bags scandal'

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2007

CAIRO (AFP) — Egyptian health officials are scrambling to persuade people to give blood after a 70-percent plunge in donations caused by a scandal over "defective" blood bags.

The health ministry and the doctors' syndicate have launched a campaign involving celebrities to "regain the trust of the people", Dr Hamdy al-Sayyed, head of the union, told AFP.

"After the exaggerated media reports, blood donations fell by 70 percent, and we are trying to overcome this crisis through nationwide campaigns in cooperation with the health ministry," he said.

The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's largest opposition movement, has joined in the appeal.

"We heard from our Muslim Brotherhood doctors in the syndicates that there are severe shortages, which will have a very...